The National Kidney Foundation of Utah has selected Mary Anne Shea as the director of its new community-based growth program.
Shea said she will be working with business, civic and medical leaders to recruit the needed volunteer base.The National Kidney Foundation of Utah says more than 20 million Americans have some form of kidney or urinary tract diseases, and millions of others are at risk. In addition, more than 80,000 Americans die of kidney disease each year. Kidney disease is, in most cases, preventable, and in all cases, treatable.
"We're talking about one out of every 12 of us," said Shea. "Kidney disease affects everyone - it doesn't discriminate between age, sex or race."
Shea received a kidney transplant in 1990 at the University of California, San Francisco. She also won two golds, two silvers and a bronze medal at the National Kidney Foundation's 1992 U.S. Transplant Games. She is currently a financial consultant with Merrill Lynch in Salt Lake City.